Voces Unidas Action Fund released its 2023 ballot guide, including our positions on statewide ballot issues to go along with our endorsements for school board candidates and Colorado Mountain College.
Ballots were mailed out during the week of Oct. 16 and should have been received by voters by now. Ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 7.
Support for Proposition HH and Proposition II
A “yes” vote on Proposition HH lowers property taxes owed, allows the state to keep additional money that would otherwise be refunded to taxpayers, temporarily changes how taxpayer TABOR refunds are distributed, and creates a new property tax limit for most local governments. While Colorado’s property taxes are relatively low compared to other states, the skyrocketing housing market has resulted in massive property tax increases for homeowners, potentially causing a financial burden for Colorado families. Voces Unidas Action fund is recommending a “yes” vote for Proposition HH.
A “yes” vote on Proposition II allows the state to keep and spend $23.65 million in tax revenue that has already been collected from the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and nicotine products, including interest, and to maintain the current tax rates on cigarettes, tobacco products, and nicotine products. The future tax revenue will be spent on preschool programs, making it widely available for free. Voces Unidas Action Fund is recommending a “yes” vote for Proposition II.
School board/trustee candidate endorsements
Voces Unidas Action Fund is endorsing 10 candidates for school board seats and one candidate for Board of Trustees for Colorado Mountain College for the election this November. We have endorsed the following candidates for 2023:
Summit County School District (4 seats up for election)
Vanessa Agee – At-Large
Consuelo Redhorse (incumbent) – At-Large
Julie Shapiro (incumbent) – At-Large
Gayle Jones Westerberg – At-Large
Lake County School District (3 seats up for election)
Grayson Cooper – At-Large
Angel Bujanda Gutierrez – At-Large
Miriam Lozano – At-Large
Roaring Fork School District RE-1 (3 seats up for election)
Betsy After – District B
Lindsay DeFrates – District C
Jasmin Ramirez (incumbent) – District D
Colorado Mountain College (only endorsed in one district)
Gloria Perez – District 6
Voces Unidas Action Fund offers candidate endorsements in school districts where Latinos make up at least 25% of the student population. We endorse and support candidates who are aligned with our values and will champion the issues that matter most to Latinos. Each endorsed candidate has expressed policy positions and commitment to tangible actions to address the needs of Latino students in their districts. Additionally, all candidates have committed to holding their school systems accountable for achievement and academic gaps between Latino students and their white peers.
To learn more about these candidates and our endorsement process, please visit our blog post linked here.
